BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 23 



sea near the centre of the bay. For the first one or two miles the 

 country was all covered with sand, and carpeted in most parts by a 

 thick growth of crowberry. We first found two nests of Richardson's 

 Skua, each with two fresh eggs ; one pair of birds were both black ; 

 the other two were both white-breasted. Then after some trouble we 

 located a BufFon's Skua on the higher ground with one egg. When 

 the bird knew we had found the nest, it sat down twenty yards off, 

 as if on another nest. This was the only attempt made to lure us 

 away. There was absolutely no nest beyond a slight depression the 

 bird had made in the crowberry. Both species of birds often nest on 

 this plant, and their eggs harmonise well with its colours. 



At the highest point reached we noticed a curious circumstance ; 

 there had recently been a great rush of water from the higher lands, 

 cutting trenches out of the snow-drifts several yards wide and two to 

 three feet deep. This water had deposited the snow in the valley in 

 broad stretches like sand. Many of the incidents of a northern thaw 

 are so different from those we observe in England, it is diflScult to 

 realise them. The river here was a strong clear stream some three 

 feet deep, running over a solid bed of ice formed during the 

 winter. 



The following species were noted at Zip-Navolok : White Wagtail, 

 Meadow-Pipit, Snow-Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Shore-Lark, Raven, 

 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carlo, Grey Goose (sp. ?), Eider Duck, 

 Dotterel, Golden Plover, Oyster-catcher, Red-necked Phalarope, 

 Dunlin, Temminck's Stint, Arctic Tern, Great Black-backed Gull, 

 Richardson's Skua, Buffon's Skua, and Black Guillemot. 



June 20th. — On leaving Zip-Navolok we steamed down the coast 

 towards the south, and after passing Sharapov point (Sharanov on the 

 chart) came to a cliff 500 feet high, which forms the S.E. extremity 

 of the Ribatchi peninsula. Here was established a large colony of 

 Kittiwakes, among which were a feiv Guillemots and Razorbills. The 

 cliff, with its mass of bird life, and a fair-sized waterfall coming do\\'n 

 its face, formed a pretty picture. Not one among all the Kittiwakes' 



